Gas water heater



May 5, 1931;` A. T. SPONAR GAS WATER HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 18", 1928 May 5, 1931. 1,804,123

Filed June 18, 1928 May 5, 1931 A, T. sPoNAR 1,804,123

GAS WATER HEATER Filed June 18, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 5, 1931.

A. T. SPONAR GAS WATER HEATER 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed June 18, 1928 Patented May 5, 1931 AmAnoirsrus rsPoNAN, or coNsHoHocKEN, rn'NNsYLvaNIA, .assIGNoN To JOHN woon 4 1 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CO Nsno i IoF PENNSYLVANIA- Appiiation sied June is,

invention relates to heaters adapted for use in house heating systems and includ-"'- 1ng,"in cooperative relation with a gas burner, a water container of' what is known 5;; as honeycomb or similar cellular construction, vand preferably includes means for maintaining a forced circulation of water Within the heating system, conveniently by an electrically operative pump; the operay x-tion of the device being controlled by therm'ostatically operative means.

My 'improvement relates particularly to the construction and arrangement of cellular units of such a water container; whereby T' thefproper assemblage of a series of such units may be eliected and maintained and the l maximum heating eliiciency of each v'unit assured. Y i

Although the heater chosen for illustration herein, somewhat resembles theheater shown in my copending application Serial Number218,0l3 liled September 7,1927, for Letters Patent of the United States; it differs therefrom in that the construction and 2.15: arrangement of the present invention are such'asto utilize, to contain water, the space which is occupied by baille plates in said copfe'nding application structure and with a thermaletticiency approximately` 40% great- 1 er; Moreover in said copending application,

each cellular unit section has va water inletv and-waterr outlet opening through the circumference thereof, whereas, f my present invention provides means for forming such `openings parallel with the aXis of each sec-A tion and within the perimeterl of the section.

Moreoven'the form of my invention hereinafter described includes means for preventing yprecipitation of moisture from thev f products of combustion upon the gas burner. SuchA moisture, which is normally condensed and returned to the combustion chamber by contact with the primarily cold surfaces of. the flue tubes in the water container sections. for a time after the heater is startedfinto operation; has a tendency to drip back upon the burnerV and to extinguish the flames there'at, Ytherefore-,1I provide means for vdeflecting the precipitated condensate aside -Vfrom; the'burner and to temporarily'A store HOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION A GAS WATER HEATER 192s. *serial No. 286,373.

the same below the latter, until the rising temperature m the heater, incident to its continued operation, causes such condensate kto he revaporized and discharged through the heater tlues, without condensation therein.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more delinitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a vertical sectional view of a heater conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a plan'sectional view taken on the lineII-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a transverse sectional view of one of `the cellular unit heater sections taken on the line III-III in Fig. I

Fig. IV 'is a plan view of one of the cellular unit section closure rings indicated in Figs. I and II.

Fig. V is a diamotrical sectional view of said ringv shown'in Fig. IV.

.In said ligures; the heater 1 comprises the outer cylindrical shell 2 having the circular head 3 and bottom plate 4; the latter provided with three legs 5, preferably detachably connected therewith.. vSaid shell Q is provided with the insulating lining 6, YeX- tending from the bottom to thetop thereof and surrounding the water jacket comprising the outer shell 8 and inner shell 9; which latter incloses the combustion chamber 10. Above said Water jacket, said shell 2 is provided with a second inner cylindrical insu- A .lat-ing lining 11 supported by said water jacket beneath it and the inner cylindrical shell 13, withinsaid lining 11. Said inner shell lincloses the flue chambers 14 and 15, containing the two cellular heater units 16, which may be precisely alike, but disposed in opposite relation, as indicated in Fig. I.

Said' cellular heater units 16 are conveniently'held in the axially spaced relation indicated in Fig.v I, by the circular coupling band 18, which is push fitted over the flanges 19 onsaid units,rand may be constricted thereon; so that said units may be assembled in proper axially spaced relation before theyare kplaced in said shell 13. Y

Each of said heater units 16 includes a heX- agonal congeries of thin copper tubes 20 which are primarily cylindrical but which are enlarged to hexagonal form at their opposite ends where they are soldered together so as to afford passages thru them for products of combustion. rlhe intermediate cylindrical portions of said tubes 2O being in spaced relation, afford water spaces 21 surrounding them inclosed by the cylindrical shell 23 which is soldered to the opposite end closure frames 24. Said frames 24 are alike in that each has a circular perimeter fitted in said shell 23, an internal hexagonal opening fitted to said congeries 20, a port flange 25 surrounding a port 26, and filler flange 28 diametrically opposite to said port flange 25 and of the same configuration, so as to accurately fit the irregular openings formed in said con geries by the omission of groups of said tubes 20 to receive said flanges 25 and 28; but theband flanges 19 are only on the intermediate frames. However, as indicated in FigI, said frames 24 are disposed in diametrically opposite relation so that the port flange 25 in the bottom of the unit comes opposite to the filler flange in the top of the unit, and vice versa. In order to attain the maximum efficiency thereof; each of said cellular heater units 16 also includes baffle means compelling the water admitted thru one port 26 to traverse the narrow inner spaces 21 be tween said tubes 20, to the other port, instead of flowing between said ports 26 thru the wider outer spaces between the hexagonal congeries and the outer cylindrical shell 23. AS shown in Figs. III and V; such means includes the opposite vertical partitions 30 which are formed of sheet metal extending from bottom to top of the congeries of tubes 20 and angularly bent to fit the oppositey sides thereof; and diametrically opposite vertical baflle plates 31 between said cylindrical shell 23 and said partition plates 30, inter mediate of the extent of the latter. i

Referring to Fig. I; water is primarily supplied to said heater thru the pipe 34 under control of the valve 35, which is normally closed. Said pipe 34 has a branch pipe 36 leading to the pump 37 which is conveniently operated by the electric motor 38 so as to deliver the Water under pressure thru the pipe 40 into the water jacket 8, 9 aforesaid. Said jacket has the water outlet fitting 41 at the upper end thereof opposite to said pipe 40 and adapted to be connected with the port 26 in the lower cellular unit 16, by a push fitting nipple 42. The water thus admitted to said lower unit 16, passes thence thru the port in the upper frame 24 by Way of the branch 44 of the thermostat fitting 45 which extends diametrically in the heater and has the other branch 47 adapted to push fit the lower port 26 in the upper cellular unit 16. The water thus admitted to the upper unit 16 escapes therefrom thru the port 26 in the upper frame 24 by way of the push fit ting 48 having the branch 49 extending thru the side of said heater shell 2, in communication with the pipe 50 leading to the radiators or other hot water utilizing devices which the said heater is intended to supply and from lwhich the water is returned by way of the pipe 51 which connects with said pipe 36 on the intake side of the pump 37.

Said thermostat fitting 45 extends thru the outer shell of the heater and incloses the thermostatic element 52, which is thus subjected to the temperature of the water between the two cellular units 16. Said thermostatic element 52 is connected with the valve casing 53 containing a thermostatically operative valve controlling the supply of gas thru the pipe 54 to the burners 55 and 56; so that when the water in the fitting 45 reaches a predetermined temperature, the supply of gas to the burners 55 and 56 is reduced to a predetermined minimum barely sufficient to maintain the flames 57 thereat, but, whenever the temperature of the water in said fitting 14 falls elow such predetermined temperature, the valve in said casing 53 is opened, more or less, in accordance with the tempera-ture of' said water, to increase the flow of gas to said burners 55 and 56, until the water is restored to the predetermined temperature. Said burners 55 and 56 are preferably connected with said gas supply pipe 54 through respective branches 58 and 59, but may both be controlled by one manually operative valve 60. The construction and-arrangement are such thatI the thermost-atically operative valve in the casing 53 determines the minimum flow of gas supplied to said burners, whereas, the manually operative valve 60 may be set to determine the maximum flow of gas supplied to said burners, of course, subject to the control of the automatically operative valve in said casing 53.

When said burners 55 and 56 begin to operate with the Water in the cellular units 16 cold; considerable moisture is condensed from the products of combustion and, unless means be provided to prevent it, may be precipitated upon the burners and extinguish some or all of the flames thereat with consequent loss of efficiency and escape of unconsumed gas thru the flue pipe 63, which should be connected to a chimney vent. To prevent. such precipitation upon the burners, I mount upon three lugs in the combustion chamber 1()l a baffle device comprising the annular shield 66 and the central disk 67, which are conveniently secured in rigid relation. Altho the products of com bustion escape upwardly freely thru the passageways 68 between said bafiie members 66 and 67; the water condensed from the products of combustion by contact with the cold tubes 20 in the cellular unit 16, drips upon said baffle device and is shed against the inner; surface of the shell 9 which, unless it is warm enough to revaporize such condensate, permits the latter to drip into the annular pan which is conveniently removably supported at the bottom of the heater. Said pan is of sucient capacity to hold the maximum quantity of water which may be thus precipitated into it; such condensate being subsequently revaporized when the heater becomes hot during its subsequent operation; so that such condensate is ultimately carried oft' with the products of combustion thru the flue pipe 63. Moreover, I prefer to provide said flue pipe 63 with the Venturi hood 72 having the drip flange 73 overhanging the annular pan 75 toy deposit in the latter condensate from said hood and its connections; to be revaporized and dissipated as aforesaid.

Altho I prefer to form the circumference of each of the end closures 24 sothat it fits Within a cylindrical shell and has a circumferential flange 77 overhanging the edge of such shell, to facilitate the sealing of the joint between said elements by merely dipping the assembled structure in molten solder or other suitable alloy; the cost of construction may be somewhat lessened by omitting said flange and allowing the outer shell to extend flush with the outer faces of the opposite end closures 2l. Moreover, I prefer toprovide the outer faces of said end closures 24 with projections 7 8, which may be circumferential beads, for engagement with clamping means 7 9; whereby said units' may be pushedy and held together, without such clamping means 79 slipping off said faces of said closures. However, such projections are not essential to the operation of said units, as herein contemplated, and may be omitted.

I find it advantageous to employ a plurality of burners which are separately supplied with gas, as above contemplated to insure thoro mixture of the gas with the atmospheric air for each burner. It is not as satisfactory to employ a single burner of the large capacity required for such a heater as above described with a single gas inlet thereto; for thereason that after a predetermined temperature of the water in the thermostatic casing 45 is reached; say, 170 F.; the volume and consequent pressure of the gas supplied to the heater is reduced, by the automatic operation of the thermostatic valve in the casing 53, to such an extent that the force with which it is injected into the burner is not sufcient to effect the most eflicient mixture thereof with the volume of atmospheric air required for complete combustion. The influx of secondary air may be varied by axial adjustment of the bottom closure disk S0, which has spring fingers 81 frictionally engaging the inner edge of said pan 70; and may blow out without damage if there is an explosion in the combustion chamber.

Altho I have referred to the units aforesaid as water heater units; it is obvious that steam may be generated therein for dispensation thru said pipe 49, or otherwise.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various Ymodications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A cellular water heater unit, comprising a congeries of tubes having their oppositeends expanded and connected together; a cylindrical casing encircling said congeries and inclosing a water space around said tubes, and in communication with the spaces between said tubes; similar end closures for the water space in said unit, each being an annular metallic frame having a substantially circular perimeter and a polygonal opening fitted to said congeries, and having upon respectively diametrically opposite sides thereof, an inwardly extending port flange, surrounding a water port, and an inwardly extending filler flange; said port flanges and filler flanges having such conguration as yto fill spaces in said congeries formed by omission of groups of tubes thereat; said closure frames being disposed in opposite relation, so that the port flanges at each end of the unit are respectively opposite to the filler flanges at the opposite ends of the unit.

2. A structure as in claim l; wherein the tubes have their oppositeends expanded to polygonal form and the port flanges and filler flanges are of corresponding polygonal configuration at 'their perimeters.

3. A structure as in claim l; wherein the water is compelled to traverse the spaces between the tubes, by baille elements including vertical partitions at opposite sides of said congeries and Connected with opposite sides of said outer casing, between said ports.

4.' The combination with two heater units ask described in claim l; of means adapted to hold said units in axially spaced relation, and means connecting the adjacent ports of said units, including a thermostatic fitting extending transversely to the axis of said units and having branches respectively in communication with said ports.

5. An end closure for the water space in a cellular water heater unit,comprising an annular metallicframe having a substantially circular perimeter, and a polygonal axial opening, and having upon respectively diametrically opposite sides of said opening, an inwardly extending port flange surrounding a water port, and an inwardly extending filler flange.

6. A structure as in claim 5; wherein the port flanges and filler flanges have such configuration as to fill spaces in a congeries of tubes .included in the heater unit, which spaces are formed by omission of groups of tubes at said flanges.

,7. A structure as in claim 5; wherein the perimeter of said closure is adapted to t in a cylindrical shell, and includes a circum ferential flange adapted to extend outwardly over the end of said shell.

8. A structure as in claim 5; having a projection at the axially outward face thereof adapted for engagement with clamping means.

9. The combination with two cellular water heater units each includinga congeries of tubes having their opposite ends expanded and connected together and a cylindrical casing encircling said congeiies and inclosing a water space around said tubes; of water ports in said units, at diametrically opposiie portions thereof, but within the outer circumference thereof; and means connectingl the ports in the adjacent faces of said units, including a iitting extending transversely with respect to the common axis of said units and having branches respectively itted to said poi-ts; wherein the cellular water heater units are held in axially spaced relation by means independent of the fitting connecting their adjacent ports, and including a. circumferential band encircling said units and having means whereby it may be constricted thereon.

l0. A cellular heatei` unit having opposite end closuies each comprising an annular metallic frame; an annular casing connecting said end closures at the perimeters thereof; one of said closures having a circumferentially extending flange projecting axially beyond the edge of said casing and adapted to engage a coupling band, for assembling two such nunits in axialV relation byVV engagement with their similar flanges.

ll. A gas water heater having an annular condensate pan at the bottom thereof, and

an axially adjustable closure for the central opening in said pan, comprising a dish hav ing spring iingers engaging said pan; whereby the admission of secondary air to said Vheater may be controlled, and said Closure "forms a salety blow-out valve for exploded gases. c a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, this twenty-eighth day of lilay, 1928.

ALoYsiUs rr. sPoNAR. 

